BAFTA SCOTLAND WITH RICHARD MADDEN, JACKIE BIRD AND JACK LOWDEN

Beverley Lyons
RICHARD Madden, Kelly Macdonald, Shirley Henderson, Jack Lowden, Jenna Coleman and Peter Mullan have been announced as contenders for major honours at this year's prestigious BAFTA Scotland ceremony.
In news that might shock some, Chris Pine  failed to get a nomination at this year’s Awards bash while co-star Florence Pugh received a nomination for best actress in Outlaw King. 
And TV show Hogmanay Live with Jackie Bird was also nominated in the same week that the presenter stepped down from the role amidst programme changes.  
TV mystery The Cry, which Doctor Who favourite Jenna Coleman starred in and was partly filmed in Glasgow, leads the race for honours with three nominations alongside Wild Rose, the hit Glasgow-set movie about a country singer, played by Irish actress Wild Rose, pursuing her dreams of going to Nashville.
Jess Buckley who starred in the country film will be up against Shirley Henderson, who played Oliver Hardy's wife opposite John C Reilly in Stan and Ollie, and Florence Pugh, for her role in Outlaw King, Netflix's Robert the Bruce epic, in the best film Actress category.
This year’s Actor Film category sees last year’s winner Jack Lowden receiving a nomination for his role in Mary Queen of Scots alongside Peter Mullan (The Vanishing) and Lorn Macdonald (Beats).
Richard Madden is also up for his third Actor Television award after winning a Golden Globe and National TV award for his performance in The Bodyguard.
 He will be competing against Alex Ferns (Chernobyl) and Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education) in the category  while Morven Christie (The Bay), Jenna Coleman (The Cry) and Kelly Macdonald (The Victim) vie for the Actress Television awards. 
The Entertainment category will see BBC’s Hogmanay Live battle it out against two CBBC children’s shows - The Dog Ate My Homework presented by Iain Stirling and digital game show Last Commanders. 
Comedy-drama Stan & Ollie, the coming-of-age feature Beats, drama The Victim, and documentary Real Kashmir F.C., have all received two nominations for the awards bash which will take place on Sunday November 3.
The awards, including those for Outstanding Contribution, will be presented at this year’s prestigious ceremony, hosted by Edith Bowman, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central.
The change of venue from The Radisson Blu means a bigger ceremony with over seven hundred guests.
  Red carpet coverage will begin at 17.00 and the ceremony will be livestreamed from 19.00 on Facebook. A special awards highlights programme will be broadcast on BBC Scotland at 22.00, which will also be available on iPlayer.  
Jude MacLaverty, Director of BAFTA Scotland, said: “This year the awards nominations are up by almost fifty per cent which demonstrates an increase in the volume of work being produced here, clearly highlighted by this year’s shortlist. 
 We are hugely excited about this year’s awards, with the nominations yet again showcasing the wealth of creative talent in Scotland’sfilm, games and television industries.
 “It is fantastic to have Edith back with us again as our awards host at our new, bigger venue.  BAFTA Scotland is delighted, too, to be able to share our recognition of the phenomenal work and talent in Scotland with a much wider audience in a BBC Scotland 
highlights programme due to be broadcast from 22.00 on the night.”
Edith Bowman, returning host of the ceremony,said: “The British Academy Scotland Awards is an exceptional event that champions the very best in creativity and production in Scotland and I am delighted to be returning to host this year.  As an organisation, BAFTA Scotland plays such an important role in the support and development of creative talent as well as providing a real platform for recognition. I can’t wait to recognise the achievements of all of these incredible nominees on 3 November and very much look forward to seeing who takes home these coveted awards.”
And TV show Hogmanay Live with Jackie Bird was also nominated in the same week that the presenter stepped down from the role amidst programme changes.  
TV mystery The Cry, which Doctor Who favourite Jenna Coleman starred in and was partly filmed in Glasgow, leads the race for honours with three nominations alongside Wild Rose, the hit Glasgow-set movie about a country singer, played by Irish actress Wild Rose, pursuing her dreams of going to Nashville.
Jess Buckley who starred in the country film will be up against Shirley Henderson, who played Oliver Hardy's wife opposite John C Reilly in Stan and Ollie, and Florence Pugh, for her role in Outlaw King, Netflix's Robert the Bruce epic, in the best film Actress category.
This year’s Actor Film category sees last year’s winner Jack Lowden receiving a nomination for his role in Mary Queen of Scots alongside Peter Mullan (The Vanishing) and Lorn Macdonald (Beats).
Richard Madden is also up for his third Actor Television award after winning a Golden Globe and National TV award for his performance in The Bodyguard.
 He will be competing against Alex Ferns (Chernobyl) and Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education) in the category  while Morven Christie (The Bay), Jenna Coleman (The Cry) and Kelly Macdonald (The Victim) vie for the Actress Television awards. 
The Entertainment category will see BBC’s Hogmanay Live battle it out against two CBBC children’s shows - The Dog Ate My Homework presented by Iain Stirling and digital game show Last Commanders. 
Comedy-drama Stan & Ollie, the coming-of-age feature Beats, drama The Victim, and documentary Real Kashmir F.C., have all received two nominations for the awards bash which will take place on Sunday November 3.
The awards, including those for Outstanding Contribution, will be presented at this year’s prestigious ceremony, hosted by Edith Bowman, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central.
The change of venue from The Radisson Blu means a bigger ceremony with over seven hundred guests.
  Red carpet coverage will begin at 17.00 and the ceremony will be livestreamed from 19.00 on Facebook. A special awards highlights programme will be broadcast on BBC Scotland at 22.00, which will also be available on iPlayer.  
Jude MacLaverty, Director of BAFTA Scotland, said: “This year the awards nominations are up by almost fifty per cent which demonstrates an increase in the volume of work being produced here, clearly highlighted by this year’s shortlist. 
 We are hugely excited about this year’s awards, with the nominations yet again showcasing the wealth of creative talent in Scotland’sfilm, games and television industries.
 “It is fantastic to have Edith back with us again as our awards host at our new, bigger venue.  BAFTA Scotland is delighted, too, to be able to share our recognition of the phenomenal work and talent in Scotland with a much wider audience in a BBC Scotland 
highlights programme due to be broadcast from 22.00 on the night.”
Edith Bowman, returning host of the ceremony,said: “The British Academy Scotland Awards is an exceptional event that champions the very best in creativity and production in Scotland and I am delighted to be returning to host this year.  As an organisation, BAFTA Scotland plays such an important role in the support and development of creative talent as well as providing a real platform for recognition. I can’t wait to recognise the achievements of all of these incredible nominees on 3 November and very much look forward to seeing who takes home these coveted awards.”

ARIANA GRANDE AND BILLY CONNOLLY IN GLASGOW HOTEL DRAMA

Beverley Lyons 
ARIANA Grande was caught up in drama along with Billy Connolly after the fire alarm sounded at her Scots hotel. 
The US singer was staying at the stylish Blythswood hotel in Glasgow when the fire alarm sounded earlier today and she ended up being forced to evacuate her penthouse. 
Ariana, who was staying with her two dogs at the hotel inside the two and a half thousand pound suite, was less than enamoured after the alarm sounded. 
She later posted an Instagram video of her putting her middle finger up to the alarm on her ceiling as it flashed and sounded its noisy siren. 
Ariana asked the question ‘Why’ as it appeared to wake her up just after ten thirty am. 
Pitbull cross Myron and beagle chihuahua cross Toulouse even got their own room at the £2,500-a-night penthouse suite at the Blythswood where she was staying — which comes complete with a sunken-bath Jacuzzi, sauna and roof garden.
The pop princess who was using the back entrance of the hotel was not the only star staying at the city centre hotel when the incident happened. 
Sir Billy Connolly was also staying in one of the suites and was forced to come down from his room. 
One hotel guest Dr Martin Valentine wrote on Twitter: ”Meeting abandoned temporarily as fire alarm has gone off and the Blythswood hotel is emptied. On the plus side the Big Yin is here too check out his groovy shoes.”
Another hotel guest Deborah Maclachlan Dougall told the showbizlion.com The disturbance only lasted around ten minutes. She laughed: “Everyone in the spa had to evacuate as well as the hotel guests. It was quite funny seeing Billy Connolly out with the rest of us. Only us would be standing wrapped up in just our robes and towels with Billy Connolly walking past us.”

From Scotland with Love 

From Scotland with Love Theshowbizlion.com

ARIANA GRANDE POPS INTO GLASGOW RESTAURANT BEFORE MEETING FANS IN CITY

Ariana Grande went walkabout in Glasgow on a rare day off ahead of sell out gig at the city’s Hydro. 
The US singer who has been on a hectic Sweetener tour of the U.K.  couldn’t wait to explore the bars and restaurants  of the city after arriving in the early hours of Monday morning. 


Ariana who had three blacked out silver people carriers to transport her and her party around the city ventured out shortly after six pm on Monday. 
After being dropped off at the city’s George Square,  had dinner in the Anchor Line bar and restaurant. 
The stylish New York eaterie boasts dishes like pumpkin and sage tortelloni and Malay vegetable curry which would have suited Arianas vegetarian palette. 


The singer then met up with some of her dancers at the nearby Cafe Andaluz across the road. 
She then met up with fans as she made her up the city’s shopping mecca of Buchanan Street. 
After taking some selfies, she even asked if she could look at the pictures she’d taken and added: “That is cute.”
She said: “I’m really enjoying seeing some of Glasgow and looking forward to the show.”
September marks a year since Arianas ex Mac Martin passed away from an accidental drug overdose. The singer has been suffering from anxiety on her tour nsd had cancelled all meet and greets but as she met her Scots fans they managed to make her smile during an emotionally stressful time. 
From Scotland with Love

FORD KIERNAN TALKS ABOUT THE AGONY HE ENDURED AFTER STILL GAME LIVE SHOW

Exclusive
Beverley Lyons
STILL Game’s Ford Kiernan has spoken for the first time about the agony and pain he endured before having to go under the surgeons knife following his last run of shows at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro.
The comedian and actor who will star as Jack alongside Greg Hemphill’s Victor as well as actors including Jane McCarry, Paul Riley, and Sanjeev Kohli in Still Game Live: The Final Farewell stage show from September 27 until October 13, endured a complex back operation following his run of shows in 2017.
Asked about any luxuries he’d indulged in since having success with his comedy, Ford said: “The starriest thing that I’ve done is that I had two of my vertebrae removed and never waited on the National Health to give me a date for it. I went round the corner to the Nuffield and I got them to whip it out and that’s something I couldn’t have done if I hadn’t been working on the telly. It was my lower back, vertebrae five and six.”
Ford said the operation took place following his last sell out run of Still Game: Bon Voyage shows at the SSE Hydro in February 2017. And he revealed he couldn’t go on stage without receiving medical treatment before each performance.
He added: “And it was just after I finished the Hydro in 2017. I was getting a cortisone injection into my spine in 2017 before every single show.”
Showing off the scar at the base of his back he added: ”Put it this way, before I got into Chewing the Fat they’d say ‘You know who would be ideal for this?’ - Stretch Kiernan. I did the damage lifting barrels off the back of a van when I was twenty one.”
Greg laughed: “The truth of the matter is there was nothing wrong with Ford back then. It was just a Daniel Day Lewis thing. I was slouching and he was committed to be the wee one and took two vertebrae out and that is commitment.”
Ford and Greg will be saying farewell to their beloved TV and stage characters following their final bout of stage shows in Glasgow.
Greg said: ”It’s one of my favourite things going to the Hydro to do the show and it’s great fun and it feels like the end of the road. It took us six or seven months to write it, to make sure it was a fitting show, picking up where the tv show left off. It’s like getting to be a rockstar for fifteen nights and it’s pretty cool. We’re not doing the Eagles. It’s the end.”
Ford said: “People say ‘Is it the same show as before?’ but we’ve written a brand new show because it’s the finale with the big splash at the end. In the last TV episode Jack and Victor walked into the mist and they were gone. It’s all down to interpretation. If you think they are dead you might get a surprise either way. If we were designing a funeral for Jack and Victor it would be a pire.”
Greg said: “Don’t say we killed them. Maybe we differ on this. My feeling is they live their life full. I don’t think anyone would invite 150 thousand people into an arena to make them cry. I think you can’t kill them off. It would be too sad. Jack and Victor have always been about life and living it to the full.”
Following the run, both men say they want to spend more time with their families.
Greg said: ”I’m celebrating my twentieth wedding anniversary in a week and I remember buying my mum and dad a gift for theirs. It’s really freaking me out. Twenty five is silver, fifty is gold and forty is ruby. There’s other things we want to do together down the line, together and separately.”
Ford added: “We’ve got a body of actors here who are dynamite and phenomenal not just for comedy bit for everything which we are extremely lucky to have. I’d be surprised if we don’t bump into them in some professional capacity in the future.” 

111 BY NICO DELIVERS WITH A TREAT OF A TEN COURSE TASTING MENU

A ten course tasting menu is the stuff of dreams when you’re a foodie like me and I was thrilled to try out the 

brand new menu at 111 By Nico. 

With high style, and a unique sense of whimsy, the new ten-course tasting menu which launched on Friday September 6th will only be available every Friday and Saturday in the restaurant located at Cleveden Road in Glasgow's Kelvinside. 

Each dish was suitably different but combined well to make you feel full and satisfied at the end and not overly stuffed. 

Amongst my favourites were the duck liver parfait delivered in a golden egg presented on its own nest of straw and grass which was suitably moreish.

The sole was also a must try with orange instead of lemon delivering citrusy notes on a creamy shellfish bisque. It was light and frothy. 

I also enjoyed the white polenta which was akin to a mushroom risotto with a taste of truffle and aged parmesan. It was rich but the smaller portion size meant it wasn’t overbearing. 

The desserts were delicious and special mention goes to the gingerbread and cheese combo which was classily candied with nuts and fruits. 

Chef Nico Simeone said;

"At 111 by Nico it has always been important for us to offer an affordable dining experience without compromising on taste or portion size and the new ten-course tasting menu will take it one step further, elevate our TRUST offering and showcase some extra special food for guests to enjoy every Friday and Saturday."

Dishes on the ten-course menu include Potato Terrine - Black Garlic Emulsion, Ewes Cheese; Golden Egg - Duck Liver Parfait, Yellow Peach Comote, Brioche Espuma;

 Mackerel - Cucumber, Greengage, Elderflower, Dill & Buttermilk; Beef Tartare - Oyster Emulsion, Crisp Tongue, Pickled Shallot; White Polenta - Aged Parmesan, Chestnut Mushroom, Truffle; Sole - Orange, Braised Fennel, Shellfish Bisque; 

Lamb Flank - Tomato Compote, Olive, Ricotta, Artichoke Barigole; Turnworth - Spiced Ginger Bread, Golden Raisin, Candied Walnut; White Peach - Woodruff Cream, Almond, Peach Consommé and Strawberry - Yoghurt & Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich. 

Nico continues:

"We want to constantly push boundaries with our food concepts and we believe 111 by Nico is like a fine wine – it gets better with age. This new ten course menu is a perfect showcase for our chef's creations and of course, the challenge now is that we have to deliver for our guests".

The ten-course menu offering will sit alongside the restaurants much-loved TRUST tasting menu - an immersive experience where guests choose from a list of 12 ingredients. 

Never the same dinner twice, 111 by Nico's TRUST menu begins with an amuse bouche highlighting local ingredients, then guests enjoy individual courses such as pasta, lamb, asparagus or fish - the options are endless. The six course tasting menu ends on a sweet note with a decadent dessert and available at 111 by Nico every Tuesday - Thursday and all day Sunday. 

111 by Nico has cemented itself as a restaurant brand with an ever changing innovating dining experience, not scared to make changes and cut through the noise. The ten-course tasting menu is priced at £40 per person with a matching wine flight priced at £35 and available every Friday and Saturday only.  . 

BGT CHAMPION JAI MCDOWALL UNDERWENT GRUELLING CIRCUS TRAINING AHEAD OF SHOW

JAI McDowall proved to be the Greatest Showman when he appeared on BGT The Champions at the weekend. 

And now we can reveal that the Ayrshire born singer underwent special training at the circus to build his confidence ahead of the show. 

As well as having knives thrown at him, and limboing under fire, Jai also took part in Zippos Globe of Death where he stood while two 125cc scrambler bikes circled his head. 

He said: “I was very nervous the first time I took part in BGT and the judges even remarked that my knees were knocking together as I performed. This time round I wanted to make sure that I’d be confident so I got some extra special training at the circus. 

He laughed: “I figured that nothing would be worse than staring death in the face.”

Jai wowed the audience with a moving performance of I’ll Never Love Again during the weekend’s talent contest and even received a standing ovation from Simon Cowell. 

Simon apologised to the Scots star for writing him off eight years ago after he won the show and proclaimed: “So, 2011. I remember my issue at the time was I was struggling to find out where you fit into the market," Simon told Jai. 

"The fact that I never gave you support during or after the show and you have the guts to come back and prove a point to me: you've grown in stature and in confidence and that was an amazing performance.

"I owe you an apology for not giving you the support you needed at the time, but I also respect the fact you've come back and made me look like an idiot and you look fantastic.

"I could not be more thrilled so here's the standing ovation I should have given you."

Jai has been inundated with calls since the show and was even approached by Hollywood producers to star in a big movie. 

A spokesperson for the star said: "Jai is in talks about lots of future projects and there is s lot of interest in him taking on some acting roles, He has also received a request from Susan Boyleto join him on tour this March."

GLASGOW CROWNE PLAZA CELEBRATES THIRTY YEARS WITH SHOP GIVEAWAY

Beverley Lyons
GLASGOW’S Crowne Plaza hotel is celebrating its thirtieth birthday by offering one Glasgow punter the chance to set up a brand new business in its foyer for free.
The acclaimed hotel on Glasgow’s Clydeside will be celebrating 30 years since being erected in September 1989 and wanted to give something back to the community that has supported it throughout the years.
As well as marking the occasion with a big party next month, management wanted to make a more long lasting commitment to one hardworking Scot.
Manager Jason Dombrower, who took over running the hotel ten months ago, said the new business will take pride of place beside the hotel’s reception desk in the former gift shop.
And he’s looking for budding entrepreneurs to come up with an interesting idea for the space measuring 7.25m x 4m in exchange for the chance to make it a reality, rent free for twelve months.
Jason, 48, who is originally from Canada explained: “It’s important to celebrate our 30th birthday and reflect the creative thinking we have at the hotel. Since I came here ten months ago we’ve put an emphasis on service and teamwork to ensure our customer comes first.
“We have a small shop which is leaving us at the end of this month (August)  and we want to give away the space and utilities to a fledgling entrepreneur who may have an idea for a business and may not yet be able to pay rent.
“In the States in the 1920s, I read that landlords used to give space away to help support the local community.
“We’re looking for ideas of what people would like to do with the shop and we will select the winner through a Dragons Den style scenario at the end of next month.  “Maybe someone wants to run a cool barber shop or sell glorious Glasgow cupcakes or some other trendy or funky shop idea. Our overall goal is to take care of guests and team members and help a new entrepreneur to build a business for success.
If the individual then wants to stay on after twelve months we can make an arrangement from that point.”
The shop space will be a blank canvas and Jason and his staff only require potential operators to submit a helicopter view of the business idea and what it might look like.
The new business will be selected by a panel after September with a view to opening at the start of January.
Jason said: “Turning thirty is a real milestone for the hotel and the building has witnessed a huge amount of events and moments over the years. We have hosted everyone from royalty and rockstars to regular customers who appreciate our special atmosphere and accommodation.
Jason added: “The hotel changed physically since it was built as The Forum following the Glasgow Garden Festival and also since it was run as The Moat House.  We have recently refurbished some rooms as well as our leisure facilities and are constantly upgrading with plans to update our ballroom in 2020. Work is ongoing.”
Our location means we are a centrepiece of the Glasgow music scene and a hub of activity by Finnieston and the Clydeside.
Our anniversary plans will also include a special 80’s theme party to thank some of the people who have helped us over the years.”
Submissions of business ideas should be sent to CrownePlazaGlasgowShop@gmail.com by September 21 2019.
ENDS

CORRIE ACTRESS HELEN FLANAGAN ALLERGIC TO CURRY

CORRIE actress Helen Flanagan has revealed that eating curry causes her face to swell up.
The Celtic wag also claims that drinking cow’s milk could be to blame for her acne outbreaks.
Soap star Helen, 29, lifted the lid on her dietary woes online.
The glamorous celeb who shares two children with fiancee, Hoops winger Scott Sinclair, was commenting on the results of a food intolerance test that highlighted her sensitivities.
She said: “My results came back showing that I am intolerant to cows milk! I’ve always suspected I was but it’s nice to have it finally confirmed.
“I’ve suffered with acne on and off for years and always worried if cows milk aggravated my skin.
“I was interested to see I had an intolerance to kale and curry leaves\ powder my face is always puffy the day after I have been out for a curry.”
Helen also posted a picture of her full results from food intolerance company YorkTest Laboratories.
Her other main trigger foods are crustaceans including lobsters, prawns and crabs, cardamom and bay leaves.
Chia seeds, turmeric, lemongrass, spirulina, dandelion and burdock and chardonnay wine grapes were also flagged as causing her a reaction.
Earlier this week mum-of-two Helen – who has daughters Matilda, four, and one-year-old Delilah with Celtic star Sinclair – went into more details about her eating regime.
She said: "We all have different body shapes and we should all celebrate and love our bodies."
The Coronation Street star, who played Rosie Webster on the famous cobbles before taking maternity leave last year, said she starts the day with porridge and coconut milk, snacks on hummus and crackers and eats fish, pasta and rice for her evening meals.